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Local News A role model for Arabs: female MPs hail Kuwait's rich democratic experience Published Date: July 09, 2009 CAIRO: A delegation of Kuwaiti female MPs discussed the Kuwaiti democratic experience at a seminar held here on Tuesday evening. At the seminar, entitled 'Towards a superb parliamentary performance by Egyptian women,' MP Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak described her experience as "rich." The delegation comprises Al-Mubarak, MP Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi, MP Dr Rola Dashti, and MP Dr Salwa Al-Jassar. Kuwaiti women had been demanding their political rights since 1970, Al-Mubarak noted, adding that the Kuwaiti people demonstrated their belief in change and succeeded when the four female MPs won their seats in the National Assembly. Al-Mubarak emphasized how greatly she values the efforts of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and his support for women. In the seminar, which was organized by the Egyptian National Council for Women, Al-Mubarak thanked Egypt's first lady, Suzanne Mubarak, for inviting them, for reforming the general status of Egyptian and Arab women and for making Cairo the headquarters of the Arab Women's Organization. Al-Mubarak extolled Egyptian-Kuwaiti bilateral relations, Cairo's support for Kuwait and Egypt's warm embrace of the Kuwaiti people during the Iraqi invasion in 1990. MP Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi spoke of the challenges facing the female candidates' election campaigns, especially given the strongly male-dominated nature of Arab culture and society. Kuwaiti women were kept separate from the country's political activities since the establishment of the Kuwaiti constitution in 1962, Al-Awadhi said; however, they succeeded in recent times due to society's awareness of the women's political role, along with the leadership's support. MP Dr. Salwa Al-Jassar said that Kuwaiti women were able to make a transition in society after gaining encouragement, particularly from the media, along with direct contact with the people. The exchange of expertise between the Egyptian and Kuwaiti parliaments is important especially with Egypt's imminent parliamentary elections, Al-Jassar pointed out. Aisha Abdel Hadi, Egypt's Minister of Manpower and Immigration, and Amal Othman, the head of its People's Assembly's legislative committee, attended the seminar, which was organized by Dr. Farkhanda Hassan, the Secretary General of the National Women's Council. The event was also attended by Dr. Rashid Al-Hammad, Kuwait's Ambassador to Egypt, and a number of Egyptian parliamentarians, members of Egypt's consultative upper house (Shura council), and media figures. In another development, Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on Tuesday underscored the importance of the ongoing Turkish-GCC meeting. This meeting, which is part of strategic dialogue between Turkey and the GCC member countries, reflects the distinguished and firm ties between both sides, said the Kuwaiti minister, who is leading his country's delegation at the event. He hailed Turkey's key role in Middle East peace talks as a fair and just facilitator, as well as the prominent part it played in the meeting between Iraq's neighboring countries. He also lauded Turkey as a cultural bridge between the Muslim world, the West and Asia. On Tuesday evening, Turkish President Abdullah Gul held a dinner banquet in honor of the six foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on the eve of the first Turkish-GCC ministerial meeting within the framework of a high-level s trategic dialogue. The Kuwaiti foreign minister voiced his appreciation of Gul's speech during the banquet, saying that it had highlighted the historical and cultural bonds tying Turkey and the GCC. He expressed hope that both sides could strengthen their mutual visions, involving political, security and economic aspects, in an earnest move towards the conclusion of a bilateral free trade agreement. - KUNA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
